Title: Petition of William Richards, 9 May 1862
Date: May 9, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 2. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).
Civil War Washington ID: cww.00124
TEI/XML: cww.00124.xml
PETITION.
To the Commissioners under the act of Congress approved the 16th of April, 1862, entitled "An act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia."
Your Petitioner, William Richards of Washington, DC by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that he is a person loyal to the United States, who, at the time of the passage of the said act of Congress, held a claim to service or labor against Henry Dorsey a person of African descent of the name of Henry Dorsey for and during the life of said Henry Dorsey. and that by said act of Congress said Henry Dorsey was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Henry Dorsey was of the age of Thirty two years and of the personal description following:(1) 5 feet 5 inches in height, of a dark copper color, stout, and inclined to be stoop shouldered;
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Henry Dorsey in manner following:(2) I purchased him of Richard Wallach, on the 28th of Feb'y 1859—for the sum of Five hundred dollars, the receipt for which is annexed, also that shewing Mr. Wallach's title, to him.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Henry Dorsey. was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $1.000 dollars in money.(3) I am engaged in the brick business, and the man, was particularly valuable to me, as he was one of the best brick burners in my yard. He has never had a days sickness since I have owned him, and he has no bodily or mental defects, that would impair his value
Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he has not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.
And your petitioner further states and alleges, that he has not brought said Henry Dorsey into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Henry Dorsey was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
Your petitioner further states and alleges, that his said claim to the service or labor of said Henry Dorsey does not originate in or by virtue of any transfer heretofore made by any person who has in any manner aided or sustained the present rebellion against the Government of the United States.
And your petitioner prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of his said claim to the service or labor of said Henry Dorsey. herein above set forth; and if the same be found to be valid, that they appraise and apportion the value of said claim in money, and report the same to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, in conformity to the provisions of said act of Congress.
William Richards
Received of Mr. William Richards two hundred dollars in cash & his three notes bearing this date each for the sum of one hundred dollars & payable with interest to my order in two, three & four months in full. payment for my Negro man Henry Dorsey this day sold to said Richards
Richard Wallach
Received of Richard Wallach Seven hundred & fifty dollars in full for the purchase of Negro Henry Dorsey aged about twenty eight & whom I do hereby warrant a slave for life
Thos C. Magruder Administrator De Bonis non for Thos Boothe
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, William Richards of said county being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.
William Richards
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 9th day of May A. D. 1862.
John S. Hollingshead
Notary Public
William Richards
Alfred Richards New Jersey ave Thos A. Richards near Canal
Note (1.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.
Note (2.)-- Here state how the claim was acquired, when, from whom, and for what price or consideration; and, if held under any written evidence of title, make exhibit thereof, or refer to the public record where the same may be found.
Note (3.)-- Here state such facts, if any there be, touching the value of the petitioner's claim to the service or labor of the person, as may enhance the same, and also such facts, if any, touching the moral, mental, and bodily infirmities or defects of said person, as impair the value of the petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and conclude such statement with an averment that the petitioner knows of no other infirmities or defects of said person which impair the value of petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and that he believes none other to exist. If the petitioner specify no such infirmity or defect, then his statement touching the value of his claim should conclude with an averment that he has no knowledge of any such infirmity or defect.
